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In this episode, I sat down with Dr. Nancy Mather, a leading expert in educational assessment and learning disabilities, to examine the evolving landscape of dyslexia assessment and intervention. We discuss the historical transition in terminology from early concepts like word blindness to modern diagnostic criteria, while contrasting traditional single-deficit views with contemporary multiple-deficit models. Dr. Mather outlines key linguistic risk factors, including phonological processing, orthographic processing, working memory, and Rapid Automatized Naming (RAN), explaining how orthographic depth across different languages impacts diagnostic indicators. We also evaluate diagnostic frameworks such as Pattern of Strengths and Weaknesses (PSW), address common clinical misdiagnoses and myths, and explore the development and clinical application of the Test of Dyslexia (TOD) and the Woodcock-Johnson V. Finally, Dr. Mather shares evidence-based intervention strategies, digital tools, and practical advice for translating diagnostic profiles into targeted instructional support.
- 00:46: Dr. Nancy Mather’s background and shift from behavior disorders to reading intervention
- 06:54: The historical evolution of dyslexia terminology and shifting diagnostic perceptions
- 11:58: Transitioning from single-deficit models to a multiple-deficit framework of dyslexia
- 14:12: Rapid Automatized Naming (RAN) and reading fluency across transparent vs. deep orthographies
- 19:30: Debunking common dyslexia myths regarding intelligence, visual reversal, and creativity
- 30:38: Evaluating diagnostic models: Pattern of Strengths and Weaknesses (PSW) vs. discrepancy models
- 38:24: Development, subtests, and clinical utility of the Test of Dyslexia (TOD)
- 48:36: Technological shifts in test administration: Woodcock-Johnson V (WJ V) features and digital adaptation
- 54:33: Evidence-based interventions, fidelity of implementation, and digital reading tools
Cool Things Mentioned
- Craft: the premier membership community for testing psychologists
- Crafted Practice: the only in-person business retreat for testing psychologists
- Reverb: the premier AI-powered report-writing platform for testing psychologists
- Test of Dyslexia (TOD)
- Woodcock-Johnson V (WJ V): https://riversideinsights.com/clinical-assessments/wj-v
- Wilson Reading System: https://www.wilsonlanguage.com/
- Read, Write & Type by Talking Fingers: www.talkingfingers.com
- MindPlay: https://mindplay.com/
- Great Leaps Reading: www.greatleaps.com
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About Dr. Nancy Mather
Nancy Mather is a Professor Emerita at the University of Arizona. She has published numerous articles and books and conducts workshops on assessment and instruction both nationally and internationally. Her most recent book on dyslexia is Essentials of Dyslexia: Assessment and Intervention, 2nd ed. She is a co-author of several widely used tests, including the Woodcock-Johnson V and the Tests of Dyslexia.
Get in touch:
- Email: n.mather@att.net
About Dr. Jeremy Sharp
I’m a licensed psychologist and Clinical Director at the Colorado Center for Assessment & Counseling, a private practice that I founded in 2009 and have grown to over 20 clinicians. I earned my undergraduate degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina before getting my Master’s and PhD in Counseling Psychology from Colorado State University. These days, I specialize in psychological and neuropsychological evaluation with kids and adolescents.
As the host of the Testing Psychologist Podcast, I provide private practice consulting for psychologists and other mental health professionals who want to start or grow psychological testing services in their practices. I live in Fort Collins, Colorado with my wife (also a therapist) and two young kids.
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